Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

{"title":"Cervical Spine Range of Motion Reliability with Two Methods and Associations with Demographics, Forward Head Posture, and Respiratory Mechanics in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain.","authors":"Petros I Tatsios, Eirini Grammatopoulou, Zacharias Dimitriadis, Irini Patsaki, George Gioftsos, George A Koumantakis","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030269","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030269","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives</b>: New smartphone-based methods for measuring cervical spine range of motion (CS-ROM) and posture are emerging. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of three such methods in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP). <b>Methods</b>: The within-day test-retest reliability of CS-ROM and forward head posture (craniovertebral angle-CVA) was examined in 45 patients with NSCNP. CS-ROM was simultaneously measured with an accelerometer sensor (KFORCE Sens^®) and a mobile phone device (iHandy and Compass apps), testing the accuracy of each and the parallel-forms reliability between the two methods. For construct validity, correlations of CS-ROM with demographics, lifestyle, and other cervical and thoracic spine biomechanically based measures were examined in 90 patients with NSCNP. Male-female differences were also explored. <b>Results</b>: Both methods were reliable, with measurements concurring between the two devices in all six movement directions (intraclass correlation coefficient/ICC = 0.90-0.99, standard error of the measurement/SEM = 0.54-3.09°). Male-female differences were only noted for two CS-ROM measures and CVA. Significant associations were documented: (a) between the six CS-ROM measures (R = 0.22-0.54, <i>p</i> < 0.05), (b) participants' age with five out of six CS-ROM measures (R = 0.23-0.40, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and CVA (R = 0.21, <i>p</i> < 0.05), (c) CVA with two out of six CS-ROM measures (extension R = 0.29, <i>p</i> = 0.005 and left-side flexion R = 0.21, <i>p</i> < 0.05), body mass (R = -0.39, <i>p</i> < 0.001), body mass index (R = -0.52, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and chest wall expansion (R = 0.24-0.29, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Significantly lower forward head posture was noted in subjects with a high level of physical activity relative to those with a low level of physical activity. <b>Conclusions</b>: The reliability of both CS-ROM methods was excellent. Reductions in CS-ROM and increases in CVA were age-dependent in NSCNP. The significant relationship identified between CVA and CWE possibly signifies interconnections between NSCNP and the biomechanical aspect of dysfunctional breathing.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286080/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Warm-Up Strategies at Halftime: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial in a Professional Women's Soccer Team.","authors":"Marco Abreu, Fábio Y Nakamura, Thiago Carvalho, Davi Silva, Fabrício Vasconcellos, José Afonso","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030270","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030270","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives:</b> We compared the effects of two active re-warm-up protocols applied during halftime's last three minutes, after a warm-up, testing, and a simulated first-half match. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty-two professional players from a first Portuguese division club were randomized into two re-warm-up protocols during a simulated match interval: (i) a strength, plyometrics, and balance protocol (SPBP); and (ii) a soccer-specific protocol (SSP). Players were assessed for a 20-m linear sprint and countermovement jump (CMJ) after the warm-up and the re-warm-up. Descriptive statistics and mixed ANOVA were performed, with effect size assessed using partial eta-squared. The Acute Readiness Monitoring Scale (ARMS) questionnaire was administered after the simulated match and re-warm-up and was analyzed using a multifactorial ANOVA. <b>Results:</b> No significant interaction effects were observed (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Comparing pre-match to post-re-warm-up, there was a slight decrease in sprint (significant) and jump performance (non-significant). Additionally, there were no between-protocol differences in perceived readiness (ARMS). <b>Conclusions:</b> After the three-minute re-warm-up protocols, similar results were observed in the 20-m sprint performance, CMJ, and perceived readiness when comparing SPBP and SSP. These re-warm-up protocols (SPBP and SSP) are practical to implement within a 3-min time window, and, given their apparent lack of differences, players' preferences could be considered. However, the SSP is currently subject to restrictions that limit teams' access to the field during this period. Future research should compare active re-warm-up protocols with passive controls to more clearly assess their effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286202/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of Movement Variability During the Spike Jump Action in Young and High-Level Female Volleyball Players: Differences Between Categories and Playing Positions.","authors":"Jordi Català, Gerard Moras, Víctor Toro-Román, Carla Pérez-Chirinos Buxadé, Silvia Tuyà-Viñas, Bruno Fernández-Valdés","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030268","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030268","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives</b>: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare movement variability (MV) during the spike jump (S) action with and without a ball in volleyball players of different categories and playing positions. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 48 volleyball players participated in this study. The players were divided according to the following categories: under-14 (U-14) (n = 12); U-16 (n = 12); U-19 (n = 12); and SENIOR (n = 12). Also, they were divided according to playing position: hitters (n = 24); liberos (n = 5); middle blockers (n = 12); and setters (n = 7). The S action with and without a ball was analyzed. Acceleration was analyzed using an IMU device. Acceleration was used to calculate MV through sample entropy (SampEn). <b>Results</b>: Differences were observed in all categories when comparing the S action with and without the ball (<i>p</i> < 0.001). SampEn was higher in the U-14 category (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Regarding playing positions, SampEn was lower in the hitter position compared to the middle blocker (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and libero (<i>p</i> < 0.001). There were significant inverse correlations between years of experience and SampEn (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions</b>: The inclusion of a ball during the S action increases MV. MV is higher in the U-14 category compared to the rest. The hitter position showed lower MV compared to the other playing positions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286023/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lack of Neuromuscular Fatigue in Singles Pickleball Tournament: A Preliminary Study.","authors":"Eric A Martin, Steven B Kim, George K Beckham, James J Annesi","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030267","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this study was to examine the neuromuscular fatigue response to playing in a singles pickleball tournament, as measured by performance on a countermovement jump test (CMJ). We hypothesized that players would exhibit neuromuscular fatigue after the tournament.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Six adult pickleball players (five male and one female, M ± SD: 40.2 ± 10.1 years old, height = 178.7 ± 12.3 cm, body mass = 85.4 ± 16.7 kg) participated in a 15 game singles pickleball tournament. Prior to the tournament, everyone completed the CMJ to assess lower body strength and power on paired Hawkin Dynamics force plates. After the tournament, players repeated the CMJ. Mixed-effects regression modeling was used to examine changes in key outcomes measured from the CMJ.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All nine outcomes from the CMJ significantly changed from pre to post-tournament (e.g., means for net impulse increased from 2.32 ± 0.22 to 2.40 ± 0.18 N·s, <i>p</i> = 0.0006; RSImod increased from 0.28 ± 0.07 to 0.33 ± 0.05, <i>p</i> = 0.0001, and propulsive peak power increased from 41.79 ± 6.14 to 44.34 ± 4.70 W/kg, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). All the changes demonstrated improved performance in the CMJ test. Seven out of the nine outcomes demonstrated a large effect size by the partial-eta square statistic, with η²-partial of 0.153-0.487, and three key outcomes (RSImod, propulsive peak power, and propulsive mean power) also demonstrated large effect sizes by the F² statistic (F² of 0.4603-0.9495).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Contrary to our hypothesis, participants did not demonstrate significant neuromuscular fatigue. In contrast, they showed significant improvements in CMJ performance. It is possible that adequate rest between games prevented neuromuscular fatigue; alternately, singles pickleball may not provide enough stimulus in the lower body musculature to induce neuromuscular fatigue.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286061/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forefoot Centre of Pressure Patterns in Black Male African Recreational Runners with Pes Planus.","authors":"Jodie Dickson, Glen James Paton, Yaasirah Mohomed Choonara","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030273","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030273","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Pes planus is a condition where the arch of the foot collapses, resulting in the entire sole contacting the ground. The biomechanical implications of pes planus on gait have been widely studied; however, research specific to Black African populations, particularly recreational runners, is scarce. <b>Aim:</b> This study aimed to describe the forefoot centre of pressure (CoP) trajectory during the barefoot gait cycle among Black African recreational runners with pes planus. <b>Methods:</b> A prospective explorative and quantitative study design was employed. Participants included Black African male recreational runners aged 18 to 45 years diagnosed with pes planus. A Freemed™ 6050 force plate was used to collect gait data. Statistical analysis included cross-tabulations to identify patterns. <b>Results:</b> This study included 104 male participants across seven weight categories, with the majority in the 70-to-79 kg range (34.6%, n = 36). Most participants with pes planus showed a neutral foot posture (74.0%, n = 77) on the foot posture index 6 (FPI-6) scale. Flexible pes planus (94.2%, n = 98) was much more common than rigid pes planus (5.8%, n = 6). Lateral displacement of the CoP was observed in the right forefoot (90.4%, n = 94) and left forefoot (57.7%, n = 60). Load distribution patterns differed between feet, with the right foot favouring the medial heel, arch, and metatarsal heads, while the left foot favoured the lateral heel, medial heel, and lateral arch. No statistical significance was found in the cross-tabulations, but notable lateral CoP displacement in the forefoot was observed. <b>Conclusions:</b> The findings challenge the traditional view of pes planus causing overpronation and highlight the need for clinicians to reconsider standard diagnostic and management approaches. Further research is needed to explore the implications of these findings for injury prevention and management in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286037/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Cardiovascular Fitness and Induces Left-Ventricular Hypertrophy During Off-Season.","authors":"Tomas Venckunas, Birute Gumauskiene, Pornpimol Muanjai, Joan Aureli Cadefau, Sigitas Kamandulis","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030271","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030271","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Well-designed endurance training leads to improved cardiovascular fitness and sports performance in prolonged exercise tasks, with the adaptations depending on multiple factors, including the training modality and the population in question. It is still disputable how the type of training affects myocardial remodeling, and the information on myocardial remodeling by high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is particularly scarce. <b>Methods</b>: The current study investigated changes in cardiac structure after volume-progressive HIIT in running mode. As part of their conditioning program, amateur athletes (mean ± SD age of 18.2 ± 1.0 years) exclusively conducted HIIT in a volume-progressive fashion over 7 weeks (a total of 21 sessions). Peak oxygen uptake as well as 200 m and 2000 m running performance were measured, and transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography was conducted before and after the intervention. <b>Results</b>: Training improved running performance, increased the peak oxygen uptake and left atrium diameter (from 32.0 ± 2.5 to 33.5 ± 2.3 mm; <i>p</i> = 0.01), and induced ~11% thickening of the left-ventricular posterior wall (7.5 ± 0.7 to 8.2 ± 0.4 mm; <i>p</i> = 0.01) and interventricular septum (7.6 ± 0.7 to 8.6 ± 0.9 mm; <i>p</i> = 0.02), but not the dilation of left-ventricular, right-ventricular, or right atrium chambers. <b>Conclusions</b>: HIIT of just 127 km of running per 8.5 h during 7 weeks was sufficient to improve aerobic capacity and running performance, and induce left-ventricular wall hypertrophy and left atrium dilation, in young healthy athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286167/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of a Four-Week NCAA-Compliant Pre-Season Strength and Conditioning Program on Body Composition in NCAA Division II Women's Basketball.","authors":"Zacharias Papadakis","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030266","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030266","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pre-season training is pivotal for optimizing athletic performance in collegiate basketball, yet the effectiveness of such programs in improving body composition (BC) under NCAA-mandated hourly restrictions remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a four-week, NCAA Division II-compliant strength and conditioning (SC) program on BC in women's basketball.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixteen student athletes (20.6 ± 1.8 y; 173.9 ± 6.5 cm; 76.2 ± 20.2 kg) completed an eight-hour-per-week micro-cycle incorporating functional conditioning, Olympic-lift-centric resistance, and on-court skill development. Lean body mass (LBM) and body-fat percentage (BF%) were assessed using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance on Day 1 and Day 28. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the fixed effect of Time (Pre, Post), including random intercepts for each athlete and covariate adjustment for age and height (α = 0.05). Results The LBM significantly increased by 1.49 kg (β = +1.49 ± 0.23 kg, t = 6.52, <i>p</i> < 0.001; 95% CI [1.02, 1.96]; R² semi-partial = 0.55), while BF% decreased by 1.27 percentage points (β = -1.27 ± 0.58%, t = -2.20, <i>p</i> = 0.044; 95% CI [-2.45, -0.08]; R² = 0.24). Height positively predicted LBM (β = +1.02 kg/cm, <i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas age showed no association (<i>p</i> > 0.64).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A time-constrained, NCAA-compliant SC program meaningfully enhances lean mass and moderately reduces adiposity in collegiate women's basketball athletes. These findings advocate for structured, high-intensity, mixed-modality training to maximize physiological readiness within existing regulatory frameworks. Future research should validate these results in larger cohorts and integrate performance metrics to further elucidate functional outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286200/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effects of Short-Duration Ischemic Preconditioning on Horizontal and Vertical Jump Performance in Male and Female Track and Field Jumpers.","authors":"Varvara Nektaria Gkari, Athanasios Tsoukos, Nikolaos Aspradakis, Gregory C Bogdanis","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030265","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030265","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a non-invasive, time-efficient strategy that has been shown to acutely enhance athletic performance. The present study examined the effects of 5 min of IPC on vertical and horizontal jump performance. A secondary aim was to explore the associations between outcomes of the 5-Hop (5-H) test and drop jump performance, in order to provide further evidence supporting the validity of the 5-H test for assessing reactive strength characteristics in trained jumpers. <b>Methods</b>: Twelve trained track and field jumpers (nine males, three females, age: 23.2 ± 2.9 years; height: 1.76 ± 0.07 m; body mass: 71.5 ± 8.0 kg) completed two conditions: an IPC condition applied to one leg and a control condition applied to the contralateral leg. In the first week, one leg was assigned to IPC and the other to the control condition, while in the second week, the conditions for each leg were reversed. Vertical single-leg performance was evaluated by drop jump (DJ) height, ground contact time, and reactive strength index (RSI). Horizontal jump performance was assessed by a five-hop (5-H) test during which total distance (TD), total time (TT), and reactive hopping index (RHI) were obtained. <b>Results</b>: Compared to the control condition, IPC enhanced DJ height (+ 3.6%) and RSI (+ 7.8%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05, g = 0.16 and 0.32, respectively) and reduced contact time (-4.4% <i>p</i> < 0.05, g = 0.41). Also, IPC resulted in significant improvements in TD (+ 4.1%) and RHI (+ 3.9%) during the 5-H test (<i>p</i> < 0.05, g = 0.32 and 0.42, respectively), while TT remained unchanged. <b>Conclusions</b>: A single cycle of IPC acutely improved vertical and horizontal jump performance and reactive strength indices in trained jumpers. These findings support the use of IPC as a practical, time-efficient method to enhance neuromuscular performance in explosive tasks.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12285931/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Clenching Strength on Step Reaction Time.","authors":"Nao Sugai, Ryo Hirabayashi, Yoshiyuki Okada, Yuriko Yoshida, Takeru Okouchi, Hirotake Yokota, Tomonobu Ishigaki, Makoto Komiya, Mutsuaki Edama","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030264","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Reaction time is analyzed in various situations in sporting events and is reported to be so important that it can make the difference between victory and defeat. This study focused on teeth clenching resulting in remote muscle activation, and examined whether it improves performance of reaction time. This study examined the effects of clenching and clenching strength on the systemic simple reaction time. <b>Methods:</b> This study included 20 healthy adults with normal clenching and a right dominant foot. The task movement for the systemic simple reaction time measurement was a 30 cm forward step. The following three clenching conditions were used: no clenching without dental contact (no-bite condition), a condition in which the participants were instructed to clench with moderate strength (moderate condition), and a condition in which the participants clenching with maximum effort (max condition). The analysis items were release time, grounding time, soleus muscle (Sol) reaction time, and masseter muscle activity. <b>Results:</b> The max condition significantly reduced the reaction time compared with the no-bite condition. Sol reaction and grounding times showed a negative correlation between clenching strength under moderate conditions and the rate of change in reaction time under no-bite and moderate conditions. Release time exhibited no significant correlation between clenching strength under the moderate condition and the rate of change in reaction time under the no-bite and moderate conditions. The remote facilitation effect of clenching improved the systemic reaction time by producing immediate muscle activity. <b>Conclusions:</b> Clenching shortens the systemic simple reaction time. This finding highlights the potential importance of clenching in enhancing performance during sporting events.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286035/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Injury, Risk and Training Habits Among Dog Agility Handlers: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Andrea Demeco, Laura Pinotti, Alessandro de Sire, Nicola Marotta, Antonello Salerno, Teresa Iona, Antonio Frizziero, Dalila Scaturro, Giulia Letizia Mauro, Umile Giuseppe Longo, Antonio Ammendolia, Cosimo Costantino","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10030263","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10030263","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Dog agility is a rapidly growing sport involving a partnership between a dog and the handler, running through an obstacle course. Despite its increasing popularity and physical benefits, research on handler injuries remains limited. This study aimed to assess injury epidemiology of athletes practicing dog agility. <b>Methods</b>: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a comprehensive online survey consisting of 124 items, available in both English and Italian. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: Introduction collected demographic data and medical history; Materials and Methods focused on agility-related activities; Results explored injuries sustained in the past 12 months; Discussion examined training habits unrelated to agility. <b>Results</b>: Among 389 participants, the most represented age group ranged between 30 and 40 years old. Overall, 7% reported upper limb injuries, while 27% experienced at least one lower limb injury. Additionally, 20% of participants used medication, and 25% reported at least one chronic illness. On average, handlers trained twice per week and competed in two events per month. Lower limb injuries were predominantly muscular (49%) or ligamentous (14%) and most commonly occurred on grass pitches (56%). These injuries were more common in participants with a higher BMI, those using dynamic handling styles, and those competing at higher levels. <b>Conclusions</b>: This cross-sectional study highlighted the importance of identifying risk factors associated with dog agility handlers. Lower limb injuries were the most common, often associated with increased physical demands and handling styles involving intensive running and correlated with reduced physical fitness. Athletic conditioning, including structured warm-up and cool-down practices, might help decline injury risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286276/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}